Cart

Do You Take Your Phone to Bed? Follow These Tips to Avoid a Bad Night’s Sleep

Are you guilty of taking your phone to bed with you? You’re not alone. Probably millions of people place their phones underneath their pillow or on the bedside table every night—that is, if they haven’t fallen asleep with their phone clutched in their hand.

If you’re seeking a good night’s sleep, lying down with your eyes glued to the screen is one of the worst things you can do, along with drinking coffee before bed. Research has shown that exposure to the blue wavelength light emitted by electronic screens increases alertness and affects our internal clock.

But what if you simply can’t stay away from your phone? What if having it around is a necessity? Below are some tips for using your phone at night and limiting your exposure to blue light.

Use Your Phone’s Night Mode

Most phones today come with a night mode that automatically changes the screen’s display. Instead of the bright blue-white light the phone emits during daytime, it will give off a warmer or yellow light. You can set this feature to turn on automatically during the evening hours or turn it on manually if you prefer.

Install Mobile Apps

If your phone doesn’t come with a night mode, install a mobile app that allows you to adjust the brightness and color intensity of the screen display. You can change the display from daytime blue to a more night-friendly orange or yellow tint.

Listen to Soothing Music or Podcasts Instead of Watching Videos

Visual images can spur the brain to action, especially if you’re watching a series of quirky ads, movie trailers, or your favorite shows. Instead of watching videos, listen to calming music and relaxing podcasts. If you find a podcaster with a droning voice, listen to them to help you fall asleep!

Disable the Wi-Fi or Cellular Data

Disconnecting from the internet is one of the most effective ways to get yourself to stop checking your phone every now and then during bedtime.

Use Onscreen Filters or Glasses

You can put screen filters over your phone screen and even wear low blue light glasses to minimize your exposure to blue light.

Put Your Phone to Bed Earlier

Putting your phone away or placing it somewhere you can’t reach it while in bed will also reduce your exposure to blue light. Finish up everything you need to do on your phone at least half an hour before you go to sleep, and then put it on a table or chair a few feet away from you so you won’t get tempted to twiddle with it when you’re supposed to be falling asleep.

Grab a Book

After you put your phone to sleep, grab a book. Either something you want to read or something boring. Reading before bed is a great way to take your mind off your busy life and let your melatonin take over.

Nighttime exposure to blue light has been shown to suppress melatonin production, disrupt the internal body clock, and affect sleep. If your phone is your constant companion, follow these tips so the bright light coming from your phone won’t keep you from getting a good night’s rest.

Peter Jackson writes regularly about mattress and sleep related topics. He has been doing yoga for a number of years, which has helped him further his knowledge of relaxation. When Peter is not writing about how to get a better night’s sleep or doing yoga, you might find him at soccer practice training hard for his next match.

Peter Jackson

Peter Jackson writes regularly about mattress and sleep related topics. He has been doing yoga for a number of years, which has helped him further his knowledge of relaxation. When Peter is not writing about how to get a better night’s sleep or doing yoga, you might find him at soccer practice training hard for his next match.

Selene River Press is a publishing company specializing in holistic nutrition education. Our philosophy is rooted in the work of Dr. Royal Lee, who showed that vitamin deficiencies, due to processed foods, are responsible for most degenerative disease. From organic farming to food-based vitamins, from raw milk to fermented foods, Dr. Lee set the course for the field of whole food nutrition.